Gin system



Sept. 6, 1938. J, A STREUN' 2,129,312

GIN SYSTEM Filed Deo. 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GIN SYSTEM poration of Texas Application December 22, 1936, Serialillo117g2`08 15 claims. ol; 11a-59) Thepresent invention relates to cotton ginning systems, particularly an apparatus; for: conveying lint from-.the gins to the condenser..

The principal object of; the inventionis to. pro- 5 Vide an apparatusforconveying lint `from thegins composed of' standard parts susceptible of arrangement for either right or `l'eftfhand` disposi,- -tion ofV the lint flue either above orbelow thelfloor `level of the gin house;

1:0 'Another object of the,y invention is to provide an `apparatus for controlling they conveyance of lint from the gins to the condenser includingfthe productionfoff av controlled Cyclonic action` of the air within the lint flue, so that the lint will: be dis- 4.1:5 posedin an even bat upon the rotary drumof the condenser.

A further object of the invention is to -provide an apparatus; for conveying lintfromthe gins to 'the condenser, which is of pronouncedf simplicity 9 0 and which provides easy access; tothe rear ofthe gms.

Ifnthe'drawings, which are illustrative ofthe invention, but which are in nofsenseY restrictive:-

Figure 1 isa-planviewof the ginning'system;

25 Figure2 is a partial sectional front elevational view of the. lint flue arldcondenser;`

Figure 3- is a transverse vertical sectional. `view through one of the gins and a submerged lint flue;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional `view similar to Figure 31, showingv the invention applied to anzabove floor lint flue; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectionalvview through the lint flue, showing the, deflectors and `means for operating the same.

`In 'Figure 1,l a battery of gins are shown atGl,

G2, G3 and G4, said gins being `locatedA in longi tudinal alignment along the floor of the gin house,

and being adapted to discharge lint through their respective connecting iluesFFZ, F3,i and F4into the detachably connected sections of the lint flue l', 2,. 3, and 4, respectively.

Thegins are of theair blast typeyinrwhich type the lint isfblown from the saw blades by a blast of air', which blast conveys the lint fromf the-saws 45 through the connectingY flues F1-F4 to the lint ilue. l

In the arrangement disclosed, the gins are' in series, and currents ofair are suppliedfto the saws of the respective `gins through the conduit l0,

5,0 which extends successively through all four of the gins disclosed. The current ofV air in the conduit l0 is generated by a fan l2, the airlbeing drawn into thev conduitthroughwa. screen I4. Avalve -|6 isprovided between the screen andthe fanf to con- 55 no1..` the now of the air curlrent.` The fan l2 is drivenyfrom the main drive 'shaft I1 of the battery ofginsthrougha belt I8.

TheV sections |'4 ofthe lintflue are: of constantly increasing diameter as, the lint flue traversesV the successive gins, to accommodate the in- 515 creased Volume of air asthe lint flue is;V joinedrby the connecting flues from the successive girls. The lint flue terminates; in an upwardly bent section Zf whichconnects 4with an elevated transition section 22' which leads to the condenser 24- car- 10 ried upon the elevated platform 26. The horizontal portion of thelint flue is detachablefrom the bent portion20 thereof at 21, for a purpose later apparent.

The condenser is of conventional construction, p5 comprising a revolving screen drum 281whiohcolleets the lint on its periphery, the drum beingrotated by any suitable means in acounter-clockwisedirectionfasviewed inFigure 2. 0n the outlet side of the condenserfa pair of dofng rollers .20 30 are provided for removing the lint` which has collected on theperiphery of Vthe drum, the lint being .discharged by the doftlng rollersinto the downwardlyldirected lint slide32 which leads to the tramper hopper 34, there beingY a kicker 36 .25 located in the lower'end of thelintslde. The lint passes from the tramperhopper 34 tothe press boxes-Sz'hwhere the lint is formed into bales.

In Figure 3, one of the gins is disclosed in vertical cross section, said gin being mounted upon im,

the'oor 38 of the gin house on suitable legs. The gin is of well known construction, havingfa roll Aboxf4l!V into-which the cotton is fed, a gin cylinder 42' comprisinga plurality of gin saws disposed `below the roll box, the sawsy of the cylinder being l 35 separatedV bythe conventional ginning ribs 44. On the rearward side of the gin is an1airchamber 46intofwhich the air under pressure is discharged from the conduit l0. The air chamber includes an upwardly extending channel 48 which'terrninates in awnozzle 50, the nozzle directing the air under pressure downwardlyand tangentially of the `gin* saw blades, in order to remove the lint therefrom. Located' below the nozzle is the upper `end oftheginue 521, which e-Xtendsdownwardly -.l

and then substantially horizontally toward the rearof the gin where it terminates in a flange 54 for connection with the flange of a connectin memberhereinafter described.

The connecting member is in the form of a 5.0 conduit or ue 56 which ares outwardly from the end which connects with the gin ue to the-end which connects with the lint flue. The connecting `ue 5,6 is) substantially aswide as the-gin, and is bent .in a-vertical planeas at 5'8 andwits-ange 60 55 engages the flange 54 of the gin flue in a vertical plane.

The wider end of the connecting flue 56 is provided with a flange 62 located in a vertical plane, which engages and is secured to a vertical flange 64 formed on the outer end of the throat 66 of the lint flue 68.

In the arrangement disclosed in Figure 3, the lint flue 68 is positioned below the floor level 38 of the gin house, and is laterally offset from the rear of the battery of gins. By this arrangement, the floor at the rear of the gins is clear, thus making it convenient for the attendant to ap-v proach the rear sides of the gins to perform lany necessary operations. 'Ihe space above the floor at the rear of the gins is clear with the exception of that portion of the connecting ue 56 which extends above the lfloor level to connect with the rearward end of the gin ue. While it is convenient to have the rear side of the gins clear of floor obstructions, the arrangement disclosed in which the upper end of the connecting flue joins with the rearward end of the gin flue above the floor level is of convenience, in that this connection is accessible for the disconnecting of a particular gin in order to clear the gin ue or connecting flue if the same are clogged, or to perform any other necessary operation.

The elongated throat 6B of the lint flue is centrally intersected by the horizontal plane through the axis of the lint ue, so that the flanged opening in the lint flue is centrally disposed on the side thereof when the connecting flue is joined thereto as in Figure 3. The importance of this disposition of the throat and opening in the wall of the lint fluel will be hereinafter apparent.

The arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 provides what is known as a left hand system, meaning that the lint is carried to the left through the lint fiue as viewed looking toward the gins from the front side thereof.

While the opening in the wall of the lint flue is disposed substantially centrally in one wall thereof with respect to the horizontal plane passed through the axis of the lint flue, the air and lint from the connecting flue enters the lint flue substantially tangentially of the lower inner surface of the flue, causing the whirling or cyclonic action of the air as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 3. This cyclonic action is augmented kby the fact that the blast of air from the connecting flue enters the lint flue at substantially right angles to the path of air passing longitudinally of the flue, by reason of the fact that vertical planes passed longitudinally through the connecting ue 56 would be atright angles to a longitudinal vertical plane passed through the axis of the lint flue, rather than being at an acute angle thereto as in other constructions.

This cyclonic action creates a turbulence or whirling effect of the air within the lint flue;

`causing an even distribution of the lint throughout the ue and preventing the lint from settling to the bottom of the ue or massing at one side thereof, which would result in an uneven distribution of the lint upon the revolving screen drum 28 of the condenser. If the lint is unevenly distributed on the drum, it will be unevenly distributed in the tramper hopper 34, and wedge shaped bales will result.

The construction of the connecting flue with its substantially vertical flanges 60 and 62, and the construction of the lint flue with its central opening and substantially vertical flange 64 permits the gins and the lint nue to be relatively positioned with respect to one another in various ways, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

As illustrated in the dotted lines of Figure 3, the standard lint iiue and connecting flue are capable of association to produce a right-hand submerged lint flue system, in which system the gins 10 are disposed on the opposite side of the lint flue from the disposition illustrated in full lines. As illustrated, the throat 66' of the lint -flue is positioned on the opposite side thereof, and the connecting fiue 56', which is the same as or is identical in construction with the connecting flue 56 is connected with the vertical ange 64 of the lint ue by the vertical iiange 62 of the connecting flue. The connecting flue extends upwardly and connects above the floor level with the rearward end 52' of the gin flue in a manner hereinbefore described.

From the above description, it will be apparent that when using a lint flue and connecting flues of the type described, the gins may be disposed on one side of the lint flue providing a left hand submerged lint flue system as shown in full lines, or on the opposite side of the lint ue providing a right hand submerged lint fiue system as shown in Vdotted lines. Furthermore, if a left hand system has been installed, the same may be changed to a right hand system by changing the gins from the side shown in full lines to the side shown in dotted lines. By disconnecting at 21 the portion of the lint fiue at the end of the battery of gins from the elbow portion 2U, the lformer may be rotated through 180 to dispose the throat in position for engagement with the connecting ue on the opposite side of the iiue. The same connecting flue 56 may be used on the opposite side of the lint flue.

In Figure 4, the lint ue is shown -disposed above the floor level 38. 'Ihe lint flue is shown in full lines connected with the gins 12 on one side of the machine to provide a left hand above oor lint ue system, and in dotted lines an above iioor right hand lint flue system with the gins 12 disposed on the opposite side of the'lint flue. The lint flue 16 is identical in construction with, or may be the same as the lint flue 68 disclosed in Figure 3, and the connecting flues 18, 18 are identical in construction with, or may be the same as the connecting nues 56, 56 shown in Figure 3, except that the connecting flues are turned through 180 from their positions illustrated in Figure 3, so that they extend upwardly from the gins to the lint ue. It will be apparent that the same standard construction of connecting flues may be used in the arrangement shown in Figure 4, as when said flues are disposed in this figure, the flanges and 82 will be inA a substantially vertical plane to engage the vertical flanges on the lint flue and on the rearward end of the gin flue respectively. As in the arrangement previously described in connection with Figure 3, the opening in the side wall of the lint flue is centrally -disposed with respect to a horizontal plane passing through the axis of the lint flue.

Furthermore, the blast of air entering the lint flue in this system, while it enters said flue centrally ofthe side thereof, passes tangentially of the inner upper wall of the lint flue, causing a Cyclonic turbulent effect as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4, with the resulting advantages as discussed in connection with Figure 3.

It will be apparent that with the construction of lint flue and connecting fiues disclosed, either a left hand` 'above oor lint flue; system with the ginson one side` of the linti'lue may be.` installed, or. a right hand above'floor lint flue system may be'. installed as` shown in: dotted lines with the -gins on: thelotherside'of the lint flue. Furthermore,`as mentioned above in connection'with Figure 3, the system may be.` changed from right to, `left hand or vice versa by moving the. gins and `connectingfluesfrom oneK side of the lint flue to the other, and by rotating: the lint ilue through From the above description, it will be apparent `thatthestandard equipment of lint iiues and connecting fiues maybe associated in any manner found to be convenient in the'building in which theequipment is installed, without changing the direction of the air current through the lint flue, and consequently without making necessarychan'ging the position. of the basic elements of the plant, such as the elevated condenser and press boxes. That is `to say, the identical equipment is capable of association to form either a right or a left hand submerged lint flue system, or a right or left hand above floorlint iiue system. In addition, equipment after installation may be conveniently changed from any one of the arrangements disclosed to any other of the arrangements disclosed without the necessity of adding-to or changing the equipment previously provided;

For example, and if desired, the equipment may be changed from a left hand system with the lint flue submerged as shown in the full lines in Figure 3, to a right hand system with the lint flue above floor as-shown in the dotted lines in Figure 4, or vice versa. As a further example, the system may be changed from a `right hand system with a submerged lint flue as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 3, to a left' hand system with the lint flue above floor as shown bythe full lines in Figure 4. All of these exemplified. changes may bev made as stated before without the necessity of providing additional parts.

Referring particularly to Figure 5, a curved ldeiiector 84 is shown pivoted at 8B to brackets or the like within the lint fiue 68. The deiiector is equipped with an operating lever 88'iconnected at 99 with the lower end'of an operating rod 92 which extends up through Ithe. floor of the gin house where it is pivoted to an .operating handle 94. The handle is adapted to be operated around the pivot 96 to adjust the deector around its pivot 86` into and out 0f the path of the air blast from the connecting nue 56, in order to control the distribution of the lint within the lint flue. A notched segment 9.1 may be provided to retain the handle 94i and deflector in adjusted position.

For instance, it may be determined from the formation of the bat of lint on the condenser screen 28 that the lintisV not evenly distributed withinthe lint flue and the upwardly extending transition 22. It will be understood that a deiiector may be provided ineach` of the lint flue sections 2 through 4 where the connecting nues join therewith, and the position of the deflector at any one of the gin stations may' be adjusted to control the distribution of the lint within the lint ue as desired. In practice, however, it has been found that it is only necessary to provide a deflector at the last gin G4, as the blast from this gin tends to drive the lint toward the side of the lint iiue opposite the gins, and the `lint does not have an opportunity to become evenly distributed inthe short length of the conduit from thelast gin to the condenser. If it is observed that` the` formation of the bat upon the condenser screen 28 is. not uniform by reason of a massing of the' lint inthe right hand side of the lintflue 'asviewed in Figure 5, resulting from pressure of the air blast from the last connecting iiues which enter the lint flue from the left `hand side thereof as viewed in this ligure, the deector 84 at. the gin Gi'is elevated into the path of the air blast from the connecting flue 56 to deflect the air into the left hand upper side of the lint flue resulting in a breaking up of existing currents and amore even distribution of the lint within theilue. If the formation of the bat upon the revolving drum 28 of the condenser is uniform, and the operation of the deiiector 84 is not necessary, the handle 94 may be adjusted to position the deilector down against the lower interior face of the lint iiue out of the path of the air blast from the connecting flue.4

To further control the distribution of the lint within the lint flue, an upper deflector 98 may be provided, said, deector being provided with an operating lever |00 connected with a similar vertical operating arm |02 actuated from above the floor 38 by means identical with that described in connection with the deector 84. The deilector 98 may be operated independently of or in conjunction with the deflector 84 to control the distribution of the lint Within the lint flue. While the deflector 98 may be used in association with the deiiector 84, the primary reason for providing this additional deflector is for use when the lint nue is positioned as shown in the dotted lines in Figure 3, or as shown in the full lines in Figure 4. It will be apparent from Figure 3 that if the lint ue is positioned 180 from its position shown in full lines, thedeilector 98 may be positioned below the side opening in the lint flue, so that it may be adjusted into and out of the path of the air blast from the connecting flue 56. Furthermore, if the lint flue is used above floor as shown in full lines in Figure 4, the deiiector 98 will be above the side opening in the lint flue and in the path of the air blast f from the connecting flue 18.

When the lint flue is used` above iloor, as shown in Figure 4, the deflector actuating mechanism including the connecting rods 92 and I 02 may be dispensed with, and the deflectors may be operated by any suitable lever such as the levers 88 and IDU, in association with any appropriate mechanism attached tothe outer wall of the lint flue to hold the deiiectors in their adjusted positions.

It will be evident that the present invention provides an apparatus of pronounced simplicity and accessibility, and one formed `of standard parts capable of association in various ways for any type of plant convenient to the gin house in which it is used, which plant may be altered at any time as desired without the necessity of supplying extra or different parts.

l. In apparatus of the character described, a

lint flue having an opening in a wall thereof, means providing a current of air in one direction through said lint flue, a lint conveying connecting flue joining with said lint nue at said opening, and a deflector within said lint flue on each side of the opening movable into the path of the lint entering from said connecting ue.

2. A lint flue having an opening in the side wall thereof, and means. adjacent the opening for connection with a lint. conveying connecting flue adapted to be joined with said'lint flue at the opening in a plurality of positions with respect to said lint flue to convey lint thereto tangentially to the inner wall thereof on either side of the opening, and a deector within said lint flue on eachside of said opening, said deflectors being selectively operable for controlling distribution of the lint in the lint flue depending on the tangential direction in which the lint enters the lint flue from the connecting flue.

3. A lint flue to be positioned substantially horizontally and constructed for passage of air in one direction therethrough, and having an opening in a side wall thereof, said lint flue being adapted to be positioned with the opening facing to one side laterally of the direction of flow of air therethrough, or to the opposite side thereof, means adjacent the opening for connection with a lint conveying connecting flue entering said lint flue from above and adapted to be joined with said lint flue on either side thereof at the opening to convey lint tangentially to the lower inner wall thereof, and a deector within said lint ue on each side of said opening, said deflectors being selectively operable to control distribution of the lint in the lint flue depending on which side of the direction of flow the opening faces.

4. A lint flue to be positioned substantially horizontally and having an opening in aside wall thereof, and means adjacent the opening for connection with a lint conveying connecting ue entering said lint flue from below or above the same to convey lint into said lint flue either tangentially to the upper or lower wall thereof, and deflectors Within said lint flue, one above and one below the opening, said deflectors being selectively operable to control the distribution of lint in said lint flue depending on whether said connecting flue enters said lint flue from below or above the latter.

5. In an apparatus for conveying lint from a gin, a lint flue adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position and for passage of a curent of air therethrough in one direction to convey lint from a gin, said lint flue having an opening in the side wall thereof centrally disposed with respect to a horizontal plane through its axis, a connecting flue for use between said lint ue and a gin and formed to connect the gin and said lint flue when they are disposed at diiferent levels with respect to one another, said connecting nue having inlet and outlet ends, means at the inlet end of said connecting flue for securing the same to the gin, and cooperating means at the outlet end thereof and on said lint flue adjacent its opening for securing said connecting nue to said lint flue, said connecting flue being formed so that when secured to said lint flue, vertical longitudinal planes through said connecting flue are substantially at right angles to thevertical longitudinal plane through the axis of said lint flue, whereby said lint ue may be positioned either above or below the gin and said connecting flue used between the gin and said lint flue with the air passing through said lint flue in the same direction.

G. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint ue section adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position as a part of a conduit for passage of a current of air therethrough in one direction to convey lint from a gin to a condenser or the like, said lint flue having an opening in the side wall thereof centrally disposed with respect to a horizontal plane through its axis, said lint flue being adapted to be connected in the conduit with its opening on either side thereof, a connecting flue for use between said lint flue and a gin formed to connect the gin and said lint flue when they are disposed at different levels with respect to one another, said connecting flue having inlet and outlet ends, means at the inlet end of said connecting ue for securing the same to the gin, and cooperating means at the outlet end thereof and on said lint flue adjacent its opening for securing said connecting flue to said lint flue, said connecting flue being formed so that when secured to said lint ue, vertical longitudinal planes through said connecting flue are substantially at right angles to the vertical longitudinal plane through the axis of said lint ue, whereby the gin may be disposed on either side of said lint flue and said connecting flue used between the gin and said lint flue with the air passing through said lint flue in the same direction.

7. A connecting flue for use between a gin and a horizontal lint flue, said connecting flue being formed so that when connected between a gin and lint flue, vertical longitudinal planes passing through the connecting flue are at substantially right angles to the vertical longitudinal plane through the axis of the lint flue, said connecting flue being formed to extend from a gin to a lint fiue positioned at different levels and having inlet and outlet ends, a ilange on said inlet end for connection with a gin, and a flange on said outlet end for connection with a lint flue, said flanges being disposed in a vertical plane when said connecting flue is fixed in position between the gin and the lint flue.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, Y

a lint flue section adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position as a part of a conduit for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough to convey lint from a gin, said section having an opening in the side wall thereof centrally disposed with respect to a horizontal plane through its axis, connecting means on said section in a vertical plane surrounding the opening for connection with a connecting ue extending from a gin, said section being constructed to be detachably connected in the conduit with its opening on either side thereof, whereby said section may be used to convey lint from a gin positioned on either side of said section, with the air passing through said section in the same direction.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint ue section adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position as a part of a conduit for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough to convey lint from a gin, said section having an opening in the side wall thereof centrally disposed with respect to a horizontal plane through its axis, a flange on said section surrounding the opening and disposed in a 'vertical plane for connection with a connecting flue extending from a gin, said section being constructed to be detachably connected in the conduit with its opening on either side thereof, whereby said section may be used to convey lint from a gin positioned on either side of said section, with the air passing through said section in the same direction.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint flue adapted for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough, a lint conveying connecting flue joining with said lint flue, a deflector within said lint flue, and means for retaining said deflector in adjusted position in the path of the lint entering said lint flue from said connecting flue to control the distribution of the lint in said lint ue.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint ue adapted for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough, a lint conveying connecting flue joining with said lint flue, a deflector within said lint flue, and means for selectively adjusting said deflector in and out of the path of the lint entering said lint flue from said connecting flue to control the distribution of the lint in said lint ilue.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint i'lue adapted for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough, a lint conveying connecting flue joining with said lint flue, a deector within said lint flue, and means for selectively retaining said deector in a plurality of adjusted positions in the path of the lint entering said lint ilue from said connecting ilue to control the distribution of the lint in said lint ilue.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint ilue adapted for passage of a current of air in one direction therethrough, a lint conveying connecting flue joining with said lint flue, and a curved deector within said lint ilue in the path of the lint entering from said connecting flue, said deector having its concave face presented to the lint entering from said connecting flue.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a lint flue, a condenser for lint at one end of said lint ue, means providing a current of air through said lint ue toward said condenser, a plurality of lint conveying connecting ues extending from a battery of gins disposed along said lint flue and joining with said lint flue, and a deflector positioned at the juncture of the connecting flue nearest the condenser, and means for retaining said deflector in adjusted position in the path of the lint entering said lint flue from said connecting flue for controlling the distribution of lint in said lint ue preparatory to the delivery of the same to the condenser.

l5. A connecting flue for use between a gin and a horizontal lint flue, said connecting flue being formed so that when connected between the gin and the lint ilue, vertical longitudinal planes passing through the connecting flue are at substantially right angles to the vertical longitudinal plane through the axis of the lint nue, said connecting flue being formed to extend from a gin to a lint ue positioned at different levels and having inlet and outlet ends, means on said inlet end adapted to be disposed in a plane parallel to the vertical longitudinal plane through the axis of the lint ue and to connect With corresponding means on the gin in said plane, and means on said outlet end adapted to be at the same time disposed in a plane parallel with the vertical longitudinal plane through the axis of the lint ilue and to connect with corresponding means on the lint flue in said plane.

JOHN A. STREU'N. 

